Faculty Publications

Response Of Hatchling Wood Turtles (Glyptemys Insculpta) To An Aquatic Thermal Gradient

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Emydid turtles, Glyptemys, Juvenile turtles, Reptile, Selected temperature, Temperature gradient, Thermal preference, Thermoregulation, Turtle

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Journal of Thermal Biology

Volume

31

Issue

5

First Page

400

Last Page

405

Abstract

Effective thermoregulation and the ability to select preferred temperature is an important factor influencing fitness in hatchling and juvenile turtles. Six-month-old Glyptemys insculpta acclimated to 20 °C selected the warmest temperature available and avoided the coldest temperature available in a gradient of 12-27 °C. Turtles visited fewer chambers and switched chambers in the gradient tank less frequently when the gradient was present than during control tests. Mean selection of chambers differed between control and gradient tests across all temperatures except at 21 °C, the temperature closest to the acclimation and control temperature (20 °C). © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Department

Department of Biology

Original Publication Date

7-1-2006

DOI of published version

10.1016/j.jtherbio.2006.01.010

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